Samme Ormiston is director of OJC’s new President’s Leadership Program

Samme Ormiston, business faculty at OJC, will be the director for OJC’s new President’s Leadership Program, scheduled to begin Fall 2012.

LA JUNTA – The Otero Junior College Foundation is sponsoring a new President’s Leadership Program (PLP) to begin Fall 2012. The Foundation will be underwriting 10 $1,000 scholarships for the program, awarded to scholars on a competitive basis. Scholarship applications are currently being accepted for the program. The deadline is April 16, 2012.

Directing the program will be Samme Ormiston, a nine-year member of the OJC business technologies faculty. Ormiston, an alumna of OJC, is also a graduate of Panhandle University and Southwest Oklahoma State University, where she earned an M.B.A. degree. Ormiston was a leadership scholar at Panhandle University and has an extensive background in leadership studies.

According to Ormiston, the goal of the new program is to develop and train emerging leaders at Otero Junior College through an academic leadership program that is focused on academics, experiential and service learning. Students accepted into the program will earn an academic Certificate in Leadership Studies.

“In addition to earning a Certificate in Leadership Studies at OJC, we are also working to align the program with similar programs at four-year colleges in Colorado, thus creating the opportunity for students to seamlessly transfer into those programs after leaving OJC,” said Ormiston.

The Certificate in Leadership Studies requires 12-credit hours of study that includes two 3-credit hour core leadership courses and additional elective courses from a wide-variety of academic programs on campus.

The required 3-credit leadership core courses will be taught by Ormiston and will include:

The second requirement for program completion will be 30 hours of service learning experiences each semester.

“The program places an emphasis on community service and civic engagement in order to help scholars develop a social awareness, civic responsibility and interconnectedness. Scholars will be required to do a minimum of 30 hours of community service each semester they are enrolled in the program. A total of 120 service learning hours will be required over the course of the program,” explained Ormiston.

The final requirement is the scholar’s participation in experiential learning activities. PLP scholars will be given ample opportunities to learn about leadership through numerous hands-on experiences.

“Those experiences will vary each year and could include such activities as annual leadership workshops and conferences, lectures from recognized leaders and opportunities for leadership positions on campus and in the community,” said Ormiston.

PLP scholars must also become an active member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and be involved with Associated Student Government or other campus organizations.

The Otero Junior College Foundation will provide 10 annual scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to each selected scholar. This scholarship will be renewed for one more year if the scholar remains in good standing with the program and meets the year-two continuation eligibility requirements. Continuation of scholarship awards past the first two years will be contingent upon funding. Scholars must maintain a 3.2 GPA to stay in the program.

Scholarship applications are currently being accepted for the inaugural program. To apply for scholarships, contact OJC Financial Aid Director Jen Johnston at 719-384-6834 or Jennifer.johnston@ojc.edu

Scholarship selection will be based on leadership potential, intellectual curiosity and commitment to something outside one’s self. A minimum of a 3.2 cumulative high school or college grade point average is required. Scholars must have the intent to earn as Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science Degree at OJC and transfer on to a four-year college or university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

A maximum of 10 scholars will be accepted each year into the program on scholarships. Up to five more additional scholars can be accepted into the program that will not receive scholarship. All scholars will be chosen based upon:

Completed written application that includes an essay question and examples of leadership and service experiences

Two letters of recommendation

High School or college transcripts

Personal interview

If you would like to become a financial supporter of this important program, visit the OJC Foundation on the web at:

One Response to Samme Ormiston is director of OJC’s new President’s Leadership Program

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